Sunday, March 30, 2008

Being Ruby

Ruby (pictured above with Evan), is a cuddlepot. There is nothing more to say about her. If there is a lap to sit on she'll be there within a nano second. I think they think they are in doggie heaven.


Doc


This boy is growing at a rate of knots! In fact he is growing so quickly that he is catching up to his mum!! With this in mind I had to change over his puppy biscuits from what I normally use, Bonnie Puppy - to Hill's Science Diet which really has made a huge difference with this little boy and he is really coming together nicely.

He really is just sweet.





Easter Dogs


You can see by the look on both Bessie Merle and Pikey's face how much they enjoyed posing for their Easter photo! NOT!

Still, they would do anything I asked of them.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Dog Showing...


Not for the feint hearted! I dont know how Jack put up with it ... trapsing from show to show, all the washing and primping, the mousse and the anti-frizz serum to get his curls to set. But we managed to get his Australian Championship and after that, packed away the umbrella tent; put away the dog trailer and hung up our showing leads!

Ah! the stories I could tell !!!!!!

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Puppy Update


Not very often that I put a photo on the blog of myself... so here Iam most reluctantly posting a photo of myself with the lovely Miss Ruby who loves to have a cuddle on your lap. Iam not sure what's going to happen when Ruby fully grows ... lol .... maybe we will give the lap a miss!!

Both puppies have really come along. They are now out of their crush at night and are sleeping with Bessie Merle and Pikey. Matilda likes to have her own space, so they know that that's a no go zone during the night!

Ruby is very confident and outgoing and always is the instigator of trouble; where Doc is very laid back and is happy to be led wherever Miss Ruby wants to take him!

They have both settled into the pack now and Matilda begrudgingly accepts them, however, its on her terms and when she feels like it.



Doc

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Dam!

I have to admit that one of the best ways that I like to relax on the weekend when I finally get some time to myself is to take the dogs down to one of the dams and let them run riot. I get so much enjoyment from it - just sitting there and watching them swim and run and jump and hoping to get that one photo that shows just how much they enjoy it is proving to be a real source of enjoyment for me too.








It's a Dogs Life...


Ok, so where do all the humans sit?


Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Pikey

My friend.

Swimming 101

I think that I had as much fun as they did just watching them!


















Bessie Merle teaching the pups "Swimming 101"



Doc

Doc


Doc and his mum, Bessie Merle



Bessie still likes to be with the pups ... as long as she gets to have her own time with us.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Ruby


Being Ruby

"What are you doing Pikey?" Asks Ruby


"Aw I see... Im just not tall enough to reach.."

Let's Start at the Beginning

The Past...

People who are involved with Massie Lodge through the Equine world also know that both Evan and I are big dog lovers. Way, way back in our history when Evan and I first met, Evan had his dog Matilda and I had a motley crew of Jack, Lance and Millie. Its a bit like the Brady Bunch I guess... (Here's the story of a man named .... lol ). Matilda is a Cattle dog cross and both Lance and Jack were Curly Coated Retrievers - Millie was an unspecified breed, however just as lovable as the purebreds.

So, when we decided to pack up all our goods and chattels and move on up to Warwick - the canines came with us (not to mention the Peachface Parrots!).

Both Evan and I will never forget the day we arrived here at Massie Lodge only to find that the previous owners had left a few chickens.

After letting the dogs out of the trailer and to give them a first run about the place, Lance soon returned home with one of the chickens live in his mouth....only for it to die in a shaking spasm in my hands once removed from Lance's gentle jowls.

Jack unfortunately was living on borrowed time by the time we got up here and only lasted a year and a half (he was 12 which is a good age for a purebred dog). He died in my arms in August of 2004 - something I will never forget.

To say that the city dogs were living the life of Riley in the country was an understatement. They would all spend hours down at the dam, frolicking and swimming. They soon forgot city living and all adapted very quickly to life at Massie Lodge.

Bessie Merle was soon to join us and arrived by plane at Brisbane Airport from Albury at 8 weeks of age. She fitted in well with the others and certainly adapted to life here with us.

The Present..

(To everything has a season.)

I wish I could say that all are still with us. My dear brown dog, Lance succumbed to a snake bite and not long after he left, Millie passed on at the great age of 14 from what I believe was a broken heart.

Its funny how people find their way to you in the course of your lifetime and in saying that, I believe that dogs - or any animals - are destined to make their way into your life as well.

About a year and a half ago, while doing some work for Gallopers Bloodstock, I came across a lady who was needing a home for her German Wired Hair Pointer dog, Pikey and I knew when I saw him that he would be heading our way.

Pikey, not only a rescue dog from his current home; also had two previous owners - so he had never known what it was like to have a stable, loving home - although I know he thinks he hit pay dirt when he came to us.

A dog with issues, Pikey is sometimes a very strange dog, however, in saying that, he has lapped up all the love and attention that he gets with us like a sponge. He is my constant companion, my friend and my confidant and I sometimes think that Jack sent him to me for this reason.

So, here we are at Massie Lodge at this point with a dog count of 3.

I always wanted another Curly Coated Retriever male and this came in the guise of Bailey.

Bailey was with us for over 8 months and we were finding that with him being an aggressive dog, life in the Robinson household did get tense at times between Pikey and Bailey.

We decided that we couldnt cope with the 2 males and needed to find a new home for Bailey.

But not before Bessie Merle had a season...

The good news is that Bailey found a beautiful family on the NSW North Coast where he is a dog amongst two bitches... no more needs to be said!!

3 Months Later...

And after a horrendous maiden birth, Bessie Merle delivers a boy and a girl. Enter: Doc and Ruby.

To say that our life hasnt changed since the birth of the two puppies would be a lie. They really have become a joy and are both of the sweetest temperaments.

Head Count at Massie Lodge 2008: 5 dogs

5 dogs = Dog City!!!

I decided that I wanted to give the dogs their own blog because they are all such exceptional animals. I get such enjoyment being with them and love watching them interact. If I said I didnt like taking photos of them I would be lying!

So, here it is, the Massie Lodge Canines own Blog. I hope you enjoy !

Helen.



Bessie Merle (Ringlord Smoke Alarm), Lance and Millie



Lance (Cobby Curl Jacksbestboy) and Jack (Aust. Champion Miamba Allue). My two dogs that started it all.